Village of Bellevue. PC: Fox 11 Online
BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — As the village of Bellevue enters budget season, it’s also taking a look at the community’s long-term financial future.
Village officials say changes need to be made if Bellevue wants to continue offering its current services, while also considering new ones.
Bellevue is approximately 14.4 square miles in size with a population of about 17,000 residents. Thousands more visit village businesses every day.
Officials say Bellevue has one of the lowest tax rates in Brown County, and like many communities across the state, the village is dealing with budget concerns.
“Fiscal challenges are always there. Expenditures aren’t always matching our revenues, and while we’re growing, while we’re expanding, inflation is real. And municipalities like ours, we’re not immune to it,” said Village Manager Ben Krumenauer.
As the village is working on balancing its budget, it’s taking a closer look at its revenue sources and how to address some of growing contractual needs. One of those needs is adding EMS positions — a requirement under the village’s agreement with the Green Bay Metro Fire Department.
At more than $550,000 a year, funding it will come at a cost.
According to Krumenauer, “Since we don’t have the resources to cut expenditures, as we’re already on a very lean and efficient organization, so it really comes down to more revenue.”
Right now, according to the village manager, Bellevue is about 50%-60% built out, with plenty of room for more development on both the residential and commercial side.
“Well, we want to have a balanced approach,” said Krumenauer. He added, “But density does have a contributing factor to our revenue sources.”
One long-term goal in hopes of increasing revenue is to double the population of the village. But for a community that’s heavy with single-family homes, one village trustee points out the need for more diversified housing.
Trustee Tom Murphy said, “When you have low density development, you’ve got more feet, more pipe, more water pipes, more streets to serve fewer and fewer residents. We want to be a complete community.”
Changes won’t happen overnight, but with room to grow, needs to be met and revenue to be made, Bellevue is open for both residential and commercial business.
The conversations in Bellevue are just getting started, and village officials assure residents they’re on sound financial ground. But they feel it’s important to start thinking about and addressing these issue before they find themselves in trouble.
Comments